5 Things You Never Knew About Porcelain Veneers

August 26, 2016

When you are considering a cosmetic dentistry procedure like porcelain veneers, you should have a lot of questions. You will be altering the look of your smile, your face, and your overall appearance – in a good way. When you work with an experienced cosmetic dentist who is adept at customizing smiles for every patient, you can trust that your new smile will be amazing and flattering. Nevertheless, don’t be shy about wanting answers, and never think that any question is too small or unimportant to ask. Here are some of the lesser-known details about porcelain veneers to help you make a decision about your smile makeover.

1. Porcelain veneers are not as invasive as you might think.

There is a misconception that natural teeth must be dramatically altered in order for veneers to fit over them. This is not true. Your teeth do not have to be shaved down to nothing to make room for veneers, especially in the case of prepless veneers. Whatever veneer treatment you undergo, the goal is to remove as little natural tooth structure as possible. If you qualify for the prepless veneer treatment, you can expect just a small amount of sanding and shaping to get your mouth ready for its transformative veneers.

Of course it’s natural to be concerned that the cosmetic dentistry you undergo could leave you with a set of white “chiclet” teeth that are obviously fake. Again, working with an experienced dentist will ensure that you’re in good hands, but porcelain veneers are magical in their own right. Customized to suit the color of your skin, the shape of your mouth, and the appearance of your other teeth, veneers are carefully prepared in size, length, width, color, and even translucency. When properly manufactured, veneers reflect the light just like natural teeth and have color variations that make them look completely natural, albeit flawless.

Veneers should not pronounce themselves loudly to anyone within your line of sight. Done well, veneers blend into your mouth and smile and make you look like the best version of yourself. The reason this is possible is because the veneers are so incredibly thin – contact-lens-thin is often the description used. And the thinness of your veneers means that this cosmetic dentistry treatment should not interrupt how you speak, eat, or smile. The veneers will feel as natural as they look.

When you hear mention of porcelain – in reference to dolls or teacups, for example – you probably think “breakable” or “fragile.” But porcelain veneers are anything but fragile or delicate. In fact, veneers are often stronger than your natural tooth enamel. Veneers are resistant to stains and they are also chip and crack resistant under regular daily wear and tear. Durability and porcelain veneers go hand in hand.

If any sort of invasiveness is unappealing to you, even when it comes to prepless veneers, there is always the Lumineers option. Branded as the non-invasive version of veneers, Lumineers are even thinner than veneers and are the easy, painless, and fast way to whiten, align, and repair any tooth imperfections.

Ready to talk veneers and upgrade your smile? Celebrities are not the only people who can take advantage of the magic of cosmetic dentistry. Schedule a consultation with acclaimed San Antonio cosmetic dentist Dr. John Moore at Cosmetic Dental Associates.